Variegation

Sectorial Variegation

Sectorial Variegation occurs when the mutation is found within a section through multiple layers, rather than a single layer of plant tissue. This type of variegation is unpredictable, and chaotic in appearance, as every point of new growth can look different. For example, a Monstera Albo Borsigiana’s first leaf could have a very nice half white and half green pattern, known as a “Half Moon.” Then, your next leaf could be mostly green with one patch of white. Your third leaf could then resemble a very balanced, but scrambled pattern. This shows inconsistency in the genetic makeup of the plant as it grows. In the world of succulents, sectorial variegation can represent as a quarter of the plant being variegated, having half and half colors on individual leaves of the whole plant.

Periclinal Variegation

Periclinal variegation is known to be the most stable of the chimeras, as an entire single layer of the meristem is mutated. Propagation from periclinal mutants are likely to produce similar patterns and growth as the mother plant. Examples of Periclinal variegates would be

Mericlinal Variegation

Mericlinal variegation is similar to periclinal, in the fact that a single layer of cells are mutated. However, only a portion of the layer is mutated in this case. This can be a transition stage in growth where the meristem will either stabilize and become a periclinal, or lose the variegation.

Reflective or Blister Variegation

This type of variegation is what causes shiny, silver colors to appear on leaves, or in the veins. It is caused by an air pocket forming between a translucent epidermis (outer layer.), and normal dermis layer. When the light hits these sections, you’re met with a beautiful, silvery shine.

Chemically Induced Variegation.

Chemically inducing variegation in plants has been a long-occurring practice to meet large-scale demand for variegated plants. Some of the treatments are permanent, while others are not.

For this particular example, I will be talking about a non-permanent variety of chemically induced variegation. I noticed these beginning to appear in May of 2020 from some of my succulent vendors, however this was a big thing with Philodendron “Pink Congo.” What happens here, is the plants are treated with a chemical that stunts the plant’s ability to produce chlorophyll, until the plant has processed all the chemical, and then will revert to the natural colors of the effected plants.

These chemically induced plants are more or less the same price as their untreated counterparts, and sold as “variegated.” While it is an interesting science trick, the variegation will not last, and you should not pay a significantly inflated price for a plant that has been altered in this way.